Sprout-puller



(No Model.)

G. T. GULL.

SPROUT FULLER.

No. 481,897. Patented Aug. 30, 1892.

I MIIIIF IHIQHIIIEIIJI UNrr TATES GEORGE THOMAS OULL, OF VVIOKLIFFE, KENTUCKY.

SPROUT-PULLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,897, dated August 30, 1892. Application filed April 2, 1892. Serial No. 427,541. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE THOMAS OULL, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVickliffe, in the county of Ballard and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sprout-Pullers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in sprout-pullers; and the object is to provide a simple, cheap, and easily-manipulated implement for pulling up or removing sprouts.

l/Vith these ends in View myinvention consists of a sprout-pulling implement comprising a lever having a bifurcated end and an angular arm pivotally connected to said lever and adapted to be moved across the bifurcation in one end of the lever.

My invention further consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of myimplement. Fig. 2 is a longitutinal sectional view, and Fig. 8 is a detail View of the angular brace.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings, referring to which A designates the staff, forming the lever of myimproved implement. One end of the lever A is beveled, as at a, and this inclined end is bifurcated or divided into two projecting prongs O by an intervening slot D. To the under side of the lever A, at a short distance above the rear or inner end of the slot D, is secured a fulcrum or base block E. The lever A is tapered slightly from a point just in rear of the fulcrum or base block E to its solid end to provide the staff or handle F, and the upper surface of the lower solid portion of the lever and the prongs O are cut away slightly to receive a metallic plate G, which is secured in place by screws or in any other suitable manner. The end of that portion of the plate G which extends over the prongs O is bent down around the ends of said prongs and is suitably attached or secured to the inclined end of the lever. The

forward edge of the plate G, lying between the prongs O of the lever A, projects slightly beyond the solid portion of the lever-body and is cut away on its under side to form a knife or cutting edge, the inclined under surface of the said plate terminating at the rear end of the slot D.

To the lever A, in rear of the inner end of the slot D, is pivotally connected one end of an angular arm H. The arm H consists of a long member I, which is pivoted to the lever A by a pivot K, and a short member L, rigid or integral with the long arm and extending at an angle to the longer member I. The short member L of. the arm H is provided with an inclined cutting-edge M, and said shorter arm is adapted to extend across the slot D in the lever A, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In using my sprout-puller the handle is raised, and by turning the same slightly to the right the angular arm II will turn on its pivot and expose the slot D throughout its length. The implement is then pushed forward, the prongs C extending on opposite sides of the sprout it is desired to remove. Then by a slight movement of the implement to the left on its fulcrum or base block the angular arm is again turned on its pivot and the shorter member L thereof extends across the slot D in front of the sprout. The sprout is thus held firmly between the member L of the angular arm H and the rear wall of the slot D or the forward edge of the plate G, and by depressing the handle F the bifurcated end of the lever will be elevated and the sprout withdrawn from the earth. By providing the plate G and arm H with cuttingedges which take or bite into the sprout it is impossible for the latter to become disengaged therefrom.

I am aware that it is not necessary to employ the protecting-plate G; but I prefer to use such a plate for the purpose of increasing the strength of and protecting the bifurcated end of the lever and also to get a firmer grip on the sprout to be removed.

I am also aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and details of construction of the devices herein shown and described as an embodiment of my invention can be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An implement for the purpose described, consisting of a lever having one end bifurcated and an angular arm pivotally connected to said lever and adapted to extend across the slot in the end thereof, substantially as described.

2. In an implement for the purpose described, the combination of a lever having a fulcrum or block attached thereto at an intermediate point of its length and having one end. bifurcated, and an angular arm pivotally connected to the lever and adapted to extend across the slot in the end thereof, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a lever having one end bifurcated, a metallic plate secured to one face of the lever and projecting beyond the solid portion thereof, and an angular arm pivoted at one end to the lever and adapted to pass across the slot in the lever beyond the free edge of the protecting-plate, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a lever having one end bifurcated, a fulcrum-block on the lever, a plate attached to the lever and provided with a slot which aligns with the slot in the lever, the central portion of said plate being cut away on its under surface to form a cutting-edge, and an angular arm pivoted to the lever and having one of its members provided with a cutting-edge and adapted to extend across the aligned slots in the protecting-plate and lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE THOMAS CULL. Witnesses:

J. WV. MGNEILL, W. S. JOHNSON. 

